Recorder



i. M. WIGHT.

RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15, I916.

Patented Jan. 4,1921,

2 SHEETS-SHEET J. M. WIGHT.

RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED D-EC.15, 191s.

v13 4 252 7 Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED, STATES PATENT o FfcE.

JAMES III. WIGHT, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO THE WIGHT ELECTRICRECORDER COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BECORDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

"Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

1 Application filed December 15, 191 Serial No. 137,102.

, This invention relates to a recorder such includes a motor driven dialor record sheet 7 which can be used-.for a long eriod of time withoutrequiring' the insertlon of a new record sheet in theapparatus. Morespecifically considered, the invention aims to provide means whereby arecording dial or record sheet which makes one complete revolution in agiven time, such as twenty-four hours, may be employed for aconsiderably longer period of time, such as seven days,

without causing the record made on one day to be confused with,'or -to-interfere at all with the record made-0 11 any succeeding day.

asconsisting in certaln novel details of construction and combinationsand arrangements of parts which will be described in the specificationand set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings Thave shown my invention asembodied in awater level recorder, and in the drawings Figure 1 is afront View of the recorder with a portion of the base. or magnet'casingbroken away tos how the actuating magnets which actuate the pens ormarkers; Fig. ,2 is a rear elevation, with the rear plate removed; Fig.3 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale; Fig. a is ahorizontal sectional view through the magnet casing, showing theactuating magnets and the counterweighted markers; and Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the lower portions of adjacent markers showing howthe counterweights are disposed so that one of the markers will normallyengage the'dial or marking sheet, and the other marker will Theinvention may be briefly summarized L/ gorlmally be out of engagementwith the 1a s V M The recorder includes an annular or cylindrical shapedcasing 10, provided with a glass front 11 connected to the casing by ah1nge 12 so that the recorder can be vlewed from the front, andpermitting the front part of the casing to be opened so that the dlal orrecord sheets may be inserted or removed, and the marking pens (ifinkreccords are made) can 'be cleaned or refilled with ink. The casing10 is also provided with a rear door or wall'1'3, normally held inposition by screws 14, which can be removed so as to permit access tothe motor or to the electric connections or conductor wires within thecasing.

Between the front and .rear ends of the casing. there is a stationarydisk 15, preferably of metal, against which is lightly pressed byfingers 15*, one of which is shown 1n Fig. 3, a dial or circular recordsheet 16, which is designed to be rotated and preferably to be given acomplete rotation in twenty-four hours by a spring motor or clock 17,which is provided with a spindle 18 which projects forwardly through theface of the plate 15. The manner in whichthe motor 17 is supported and"adjusted will be explained subsequently.

The dial or record sheet-16 1s provided with equally spaced time lines16 which preferably divide the sheet intotwenty-four spaces, these linesbeing arc-shaped, and if extended inwardly, would pass through thecenter of the sheet. Preferably also, the spaces between the lines 16 isdivided into subdivisions of time by additional evenly spaced timelines, all of which may for convenience be termed isotempo lines.Additionally the sheet is divided by concentric, evenly spaced circles16 into spaces or division's, which in this instance indicate differentwater levels of the boiler with which the recorder is employed.

For the purpose of making a record on the sheet 16, I employ markers,which in this instance, although not necessarily, make ink lines on thesheet and consist of pens 22 which are supported on the upper ends oflight and somewhat flexible fingers 23 which extend downwardly from thedial easing into a magnet casing 24 which constitutes a hollow columnfor the upper part of the recorder and is mounted on a base 25. At thelower ends, the fingers 23 areprovided with counterweighted heads whichare pivotally mounted on a pin or spindle 26 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4 Thearrangement of these counterweighted heads of the markers and of themagnets which actuate them is important, because when the recorder isused for a certain pur-' pose, such, for example, as the recording ofthe water level in a boiler, it is desirable in order that good andeasily readable records may be made-that part of the markers normallyengage the record sheet, and at intervals, or on the occurrence ofpredetermined conditions be lifted therefrom so as to normally mark therecord and when lifted from the sheet to leave a break in the mark or'line, and that other markers be normally out of engagement with therecord sheet, and at intervals, or on the occurrence of otherpredetermined conditions be drawn forward into engagement with therecord sheet so as to make marks or lines thereon. In this instance, theinnermost and the outermost markers, that is to say, the marker whichindicates or records the lowest water condition, and the one whichindicates or records the highest water condition are normally out ofengagement with the record sheet, and when the water reaches either thepredetermined low level or when it reaches the predetermined high level,one of these two markers is drawn into engagement with the record sheet.On the other hand, the intermediate markers, or those which recordintermediate water levels normally engage and draw lines on the recordsheet, and whenthewater level reaches a position corresponding to one ofthese markers, that marker is drawn from the record sheet so as to leavea space or a break in the line which it normally marks or draws.

v In other words, the water level record on any sheet is read by thebreaks or spaces in the lines except for high and low water conditionswhich are read by the marks or lines themselves.

This is done because the high and low level conditions are maintainedusually for very brief periods.- For example, the low level conditionwould be recorded frequently by the fireman blowing out his gage glass,which a careful fireman does at regular periods. It has been found byexperience that if it is attempted to record the time of blowing out orcleaning the gage glass by lifting a en from the record sheet, it wouldbe difiicu t, if not impossible to determine when because the pen wouldbe rerecord-sheet so quickly after this was done, stored onto the it waslifted that it would not leave, in many instances, a discernible breakin the line. On the other hand, if the pen is normally out of engagementwith the paper and comes in contact therewith only for a short time, thetime of blowing out the gage glass is clearly recorded.

With this explanation, reference will again be had to the constructionof the markers, and by referring to the drawings it will be observedthat the four intermediate markers are provided with heads 27' withcounterweighting or counterbalancing rearward extensions which press thepens of these intermediate markers against the record sheet with justsufiicient pressure to make good lines or marks thereon. On the otherhand, the innermost and the outermost markers are provided with heads 28which have forward counterweighting or counterbalanclng extensions whichtend to swing the innermost and the outermost markers outwardly awayfrom the record sheet.

These markers are shifted away from their normal positions by magnets,four of which, designated 29, are in the front part of the magnet casing24, and are provided with armatures 30 having extensions 30, which whenthe several magnets are energized, rock the markers so as to move thepens away from the record sheet and thus actuated by magnets 31 havingarmatures 32 which as will be observed by reference to the drawings, tipthese two markers in the reverse direction so as to cause the pens toengage the record sheet. It will be understood, ofrcourse, that thesemagnets will be energized separately, or one at a time, the particularmagnet which is energized depending upon the level of the water in theboiler or gage glass. It will be understood also, that when the head ofthe marker is released by the corresponding magnet armature, said ingnet will drop back to normal position by gravity.

It may be stated at this point that there will be employed with thisrecorder, a battery or othervsource of current and a series of electriccontacts associated in some manner with the boiler, as with the gageglass, and there will be utilized a float controlled contact maker whichwill rise and fall with the change of water level and engage the severalcontacts so as to complete the circuit separately through the severalmagnets. I prefer to employ in connection with the recorder heredescribed, the float controlling mechanism illustrated and claimed in myprior Patent No. 1,179,486, granted on the 18th day of April, 1916.

It should be observed in passing, that the pens 22 ofthe markers arearranged in an are of a circle correspondin to the curved isotempo linesas shown in ig.'1.

An additional important feature of my invention resides in the manner ofmounting and adjusting the motor and the record sheet so as to adapt itfor a longer period of time thanis represented by a complete revolutionof the record sheet. For an understanding of this feature reference ishad particularly to Figs. 2 and 3-. It will be observed by referring tothese figures that the motor 17 which rotates the record sheet ismounted in a ring or circular head33 which has a laterally projectingarm 34, pivoted at 35 to a bracket 36 near the periphery of the casing10. Diametrically opposite from the arm 34 there is a guide 37 for theclock holding ring or head 33. For the purpose of shift ing the clockand hence the recording sheet, there is provided a shifting spindle 38,which at its lower end is threaded and engages a nut 39 rather loosely,mounted in a boss or chamber 40 carried by the clock supporting ring orhead 33. The outer portion of the bolt 38 extends through the annularcasing wall 10, and at its outer end is provided with a small hand wheel41 which may be turned to swing the clock about the pivot point 35.Associated with this hand wheel 41 is a spring actuated looking pin 42with a point which is adapted to enter into an opening in a. lug on thelower side of the hand wheel 41.

The object of this arrangement or construction is believed to be nowapparent.

' It will be apparent that when a twenty-four hour record has been made,instead of placing a new record sheet the recorder,

the operator simply pulls out the locking pin 42 and turns the motorshifting spindle or bolt 38 through one revolution, the pin being thenallowed to snap back into locking position. This swings the motor andthe record sheet a short distance to the left or right as the casemaybe, so that the pens will be displaced from the record lines whichthey made in the preceding twenty-four hours. This can be donerepeatedly, the

pens each day making records independ-' ently of those made on thepreceding day or days. In practice, I find that a seven day record canbe conveniently made on a record sheet which makes a complete revolutioneach twenty-four hours. It might be stated that the stationary dialplate 15 contains an elongated slot 15 (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1)through which slot project the turning spindle for the record sheet,andthe disk 21 against which the sheet is pressed by the-holding disk19.

In order that accurate records may be made from day to day it isimportant that the clock be shifted in a predetermined direction withrespect to the isotempo lines, or with respect to the curved hne formed'by the several marking pens. To this end the pivotal axis 35 aboutwhich the clock is turned or swung, is the center of the arc of theseveral pens, or the center of the 'isotempo line when arranged directlyunder high and low water conditions are reached.

The connections for the several magnets will be made by binding posts 47arranged in a binding post chamber 48 which is mounted on the base 25,and the connections with the alarm bells and lamps will be made to themagnets which actuate the high andlow water recording pens by conductors49 which are indicated in Fig. 2.

While I have described the preferred construction of the recorder andhave explained the preferred use to which the recorder may be put, I donot wish tobe confined either to the details of construction hereindisclosed, or to .a recorder used for indicating water level conditionsof a boiler, as the construction may be modified without departing fromthe broad principles of the invention, and I am aware that the essentialfeatures of the recorder may be used for other purposes than that hereinmentioned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a recorder, amotor for moving a record sheet; a plurality of markers coop eratingwith the record sheet which is to be shifted by the motor, part of saidmarkers normally engaging the record sheet and adapted to be shiftedtherefrom, and part of the markers normally out of engagement with therecord sheet and adapted to be shifted into engagement with the same.

2. In a recorder, a motor for moving a record sheet ;-'a plurality ofmarkers cooprecord sheet; a plurality of markers cooperating with therecord sheet which is to be shifted by the motor; and a plurality ofmagnets associated with the markers adapted to be successivelyenergized, part of the magnets when energized shifting the associatedmarkers in one direction away from the sheet, and the remainder whenenergized shifting the associated markers in the reverse directiontoward the sheet.

4. A recorder comprising a motor for' shifting a record sheet, and aplurality of normally retaining them in such position,

said means moving part of the markers in one direction away from thesheet and an other part in the reverse direction toward the sheet. I

5. A recorder comprising a motor for shifting a record sheet; and aplurality of markers for making a record on the sheet which is shiftedby the motor, said markers having counterweights which tend to move partof the markers in one direction away from the sheet and part in thereverse direction toward the sheet.

6. In a recorder, a motor for shifting a record sheet; a plurality ofpivoted markers having marking points adapted to make marks on therecord sheet; and electrically operated means for shifting part of saidmarkers from normal position away from the sheet and for shifting theremainder of the markers from normal position toward the sheet.

7. In a recorder, a motor for shifting a record sheet; a plurality ofpivoted markers having marking points adapted to make marks on therecord sheet; electrically operated means for shifting part of saidmarkers from normal position away from the sheet and for shifting theremainder of the markers from normal position toward the sheet; andmeans associated with said markers for restoring the markers to normalposition when the magnets are deenergized.

8. In a recorder, a motor for shifting a record sheet; a plurality ofpivoted markers having marking points adapted to make marks on therecord sheet; and electrically operated means for shifting part of saidmarkers from normal position away from thesheet and for shifting theremainder of the markers from normal position toward the sheet, saidmarkers having counterweights which restore the markers to normalposition when the magnets are deenergized.

9. In a recorder, a motor for rotating a flat, circular record sheet inthe plane of said sheet; marking means for making a record on the sheet;and means for shifting the motor and the associated record sheetlaterally with reference to the marking means, whereby the record marksmade in one period of time will be displaced with reference to therecord marks made in a preceding period of time.

10. In a recorder; means for rotating a flat, circular record sheetincluding a support for the record sheet normally having a rotarymovement only; marking means l1. In a recorder, a casing; a motor forrotating a flat circular record sheet in the plane of said sheet;marking means adapted to make a record on the sheet; and means forshifting the motor laterally-with reference to the marking means so thatthe marks made in one revolution of the sheet will be displaced withreference to the marks made in another revolution thereof.

12. In a recorder, a casing; a motor having a rotating supporting anddriving spindle for rotating a-flat, circular record sheet in the planeof said sheet; marking means for making a record on the sheet; and meansfor shifting the spindle laterally with reference to the marking meansso that the record made by the marklng means in one revolu tion of therecord sheet will be dis flaced with reference to the record made inanother revolution thereof.

13. In a recorder, a casing; a pivotally supported motor having aspindle for rotating and supporting'a flat, circular record sheet;marking means for making a record on the sheet; and means for swingingthe motor laterally with reference to the marking means whereby therecord made in one revolution of the record sheet will be displaced withrespect to that made during another revolution thereof.

14. In a recorder, a casing; a motor and motor driven spindle forrotating a flat, circular record sheet in the plane of said sheet; aplurality of markers having marking points arranged in a line; and meansfor shifting the spindle laterally with'refer' ence to the markers andin the direction of the line of the marking points whereby the recordmade during one revolution of the sheet will be displaced with respectto the record made during another revolution thereof.

15. In a recorder, a casing adapted to accommodate a circular recordsheet or dial to be rotated; at spindle for rotating said sheet andadapted to extend substantially centrally therethrough; marking meansfor making a record a predetermined distance JAlVlES M. WIGHT.

signature.

